Berea Report: Prepping for the Run

TheOBR.com

11/10/2006

The Browns face the NFL's top rushing offense this weekend, creating a huge challenge for one of the league's worst run defenses. Head coach Romeo Crennel finally admitted to the weaknesses this week, and talked about stopping the Falcons...

Browns coach Romeo Crennel has finally admitted what Browns have known for a
long time - the run defense has not been very good this season. It is a worry
going into Atlanta Sunday because the Falcons have the top-ranked run offense
and the Browns are 29th in run defense.

Adding Ted Washington at nose tackle and Willie McGinest at outside
linebacker was supposed to cure the ills of last year. It has not. Rookie inside
linebacker D'Qwell Jackson hasn't made anyone forget Ben Taylor yet. Jackson
will be better in time. Jackson is second on the team with 66 tackles, but only
two have been for negative yardage. Andra Davis has 67 tackles and only one for
negative yardage.

"We're disappointed that the run defense hasn't been better than we
anticipated it being," Coach Romeo Crennel said. "When we added Ted and Willie,
we thought that would make an improvement in the running game. To a degree, I
think it has been improved.

"Overall, the numbers don't say that it has improved. Many times, the numbers
don't lie. We have to do a better job of being diligent about our leverage and
our fits. Sometimes, the problem has moved to another spot. I think that has
happened to a degree."

There was more bad news on the injury front Friday. Cornerback Jereme Perry
aggravated his ankle injury in practice Thursday. If he cannot play it would
mean Ralph Brown would start at one cornerback spot. Dave Holly has recovered
from the illness that prevented from playing against the Chargers last week.